deco art Archives - Studio Katie

DIY Market List Stand

Hey y’all! Today I’ve got a new blog post up over on the Walnut Hollow blog! I’m showing you how to create a DIY Grocery List stand using their Tablet Stand! It’s the perfect size for a list and doesn’t take up too much counter space.

See the full DIY here.

(This blog post is sponsored by Walnut Hollow, I received compensation however all creative magic and opinions are my own.)

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Tea Art Printable + Plum Deluxe Tea Review

(This post is sponsored by Plum Deluxe. I received product in exchange for a review however all opinions and artwork are my own.)

Hey everyone! I think I’ve mentioned here on the blog a few times (or maybe a lot?) how much I love tea. It’s my beverage of choice and you can almost always find a cup in my hand.

Last week I created this mini tea themed painting and today I wanted to share it as a free printable for y’all! All I ask is that you don’t resell or alter my art print.

I used DecoArt’s Media Fluid Acrylics for this painting. I really love how vibrant they are. Even my palette makes me happy!

Download the print here:

ADVENTURE OR TEA ART PRINT

I did a tea review here earlier in the year, and have since been wanting to do another! So when Plum Deluxe contacted me about a possible review, I said yes and I knew it would be perfect to work into this post.

First, a little bit about Plum Deluxe:

Hand-blended in small batches at our studio in Portland, Oregon, Plum Deluxe’s line of signature loose leaf teas will help you to slow down for a mindful moment and enjoy the luxurious feeling of a cup of tea, perfect for a warm exchange with friends and family or a few quiet minutes of reflection in solitude. All of our tea blends are organic, non-gmo, and free of chemicals and sulfites – we support local and USA farmers wherever possible and run an active philanthropy program. Our company was founded by entrepreneur Andy Hayes as a tribute to his mother, who lost a brave 6-year battle with breast cancer but never forgot to enjoy “the little things” in life.

Plum Deluxe sent me 2 different teas to try, and I have to say I have mixed feelings about them. First, let me just say that while I love tea, I don’t love all teas. I can’t stand rooibos, and I don’t really like chai, so I’m slightly picky.

I loved their Gratitude Blend. At first strawberry + earl grey seemed like a slightly different/weird combination, but I loved the taste of it! I really liked the fruity taste of the strawberries mixed with this rich earl grey.

Plum Deluxe also sent me some of their Reading Nook blend. This one smells fantastic, but just I didn’t love the flavor of it. I think possibly it was the lavender, even though I imagine that’s what makes it smell so good. It’s simply not my preference.

What Plum Deluxe is known best for is their Tea of the Month club. Who wouldn’t want to have a box of tea arrive in their mailbox every month?? That sounds perfect. You can subscribe to the box for $10/month and receive 1 oz of a custom seasonally-perfect artisan loose leaf tea made just for the club. Subscribers also enjoy access to a robust and supportive private tea lover’s community, tea-inspired recipes, discounts/free shipping on extra teas and supplies, and other surprises.

So there you have it- I’m about to go make another cup of the Gratitude blend right now, and while I didn’t love the Reading Nook blend, it’s just a matter of preference, it could be your favorite!

Learn more about Plum Deluxe on their website here, and be sure to stop by their blog!

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DIY Apartment Kitchen Dresser

This restyled dresser makes the perfect home for your kitchen gadgets & spices! (was that too punny?)

Well, anyway, I bought this dresser for less than $10 at the thrift store to put in our kitchen to hold my many boxes of tea, spices, etc. I wasn’t sure how I was going to paint it until I was looking at a magazine at our library and saw a piece of furniture that was painted to look like an apartment building and loved the idea.

So here is my apartment dresser:

You can download the pattern for the windows, doors, etc on DecoArt’s website here.

SUPPLIES

Americana Decor® Chalky Finish Paint in Carbon, Relic, and Yesteryear,

Americana® Acrylics in Lamp Black, Leaf Green, Naphthol Red, Navy Blue, Snow White

DuraClear Matte Varnish (DS60)

water container

palette or plastic plate

paper towels

painter’s tape

paint brushes

dresser

pencil

container

NOTE: Let dry completely between painting steps.

1. Create a custom color (a medium grey) by mixing both containers of Yesteryear and Relic together into a container. Stir well until completely mixed.

2. Use a 2″ flat brush to paint the front and sides of all the dresser drawers in the mix from Step 1. (Paint only the drawer front and leave the handles unfinished.)

3. Paint the wooden drawer handles in Carbon using a 1/4″ flat brush. (If using metal handles, paint using Black Tie.)

4. Following the pattern, sketch the windows underneath all of the handles except the one on the bottom drawer. Paint the windows in Snow White. Let dry. Once dry, outline in Navy Blue.

5. On the bottom dresser drawer, there will be one door and one window. Use a pencil to lightly sketch on the door, using the pattern as a guide. Paint in Naphthol Red; let dry and outline in Lamp Black once dry.

6. Use the pattern as a guide to sketch on extra features in the windows, such as curtains, railings, and hanging baskets. Paint them in Lamp Black and desired colors.

7. Using the pattern, sketch on the bicycle and bushes onto the bottom drawer. Paint the bicycle in Lamp Black with a #1 round brush and the bushes in Leaf Green.

8. Use painter’s tape to tape off the top of the dresser and the bottom 6″ of the dresser. Paint both sections with two coats of Naphthol Red.

9. Apply a coat of DuraClear Matte Varnish to all painted surfaces.

10. Once dry, put all of the drawers back in the dresser.

On the wall next to it is my Pegboard Organizer, which I love. You can find the tutorial for that here.

Have you ever thought about putting a dresser in your kitchen? It actually comes in really handy for extra storage and I have 2 drawers for nothing but tea. I love tea.

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DIY Chalkboard Pegboard Kitchen Organizer

Today I have a fun project to share, I made this for DecoArt and I love seeing it in our kitchen everyday.

This project was inspired by the kitchen pegboard that Emma from A Beautiful Mess created, but on a smaller scale, as I just wanted to hang utensils. I also feel like I made need to make a pegboard for my studio, so that I can hang my crafty tools and outline them.

Use @decoart Chalkboard Coating to make this Chalkboard Pegboard Kitchen Organizer. Tutorial by @punkprojects

Americana Clear Chalkboard Coating
Americana Acrylics Grey Storm
Pegboard
1.5″ Paint Brush
Newspaper or Tarp to paint on
Chalk Marker
Pegboard Hooks

1. Place your pegboard on newspaper or a tarp, so that any paint that drips through the holes are easy to clean up. Using a 1.5″ paint brush, paint your pegboard with Grey Storm.

2. Give your pegboard a second coat of Grey Storm to make sure it is completely covered.

3. Paint your pegboard with the Clear Chalkboard Coating. You want to do one coat horizontal, and one coat vertical, letting them dry for 1 hr in between coats.

4. Let the chalkboard coating cure for 24 hours and then prep it by lightly rubbing a piece of chalk over it, then wiping it clean.

5. Now add your pegboard hooks, hang up your utensils and use a chalk marker to doodle around them.

I love the clear chalkboard coating, it makes me want to turn everything into chalkboards. I’m not even kidding, I painted my desk surface with it.

Don’t you just love pegboards? What would you hang up on your pegboard?

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DIY Geometric Heart Wooden Box

I’ve got another fun Valentine project for you guys today. I created this heart box for DecoArt, and I know you guys are going to love it!

I shared this trick a couple of years ago, making faux 3D hearts and so I did it again, only this time I used paint to create an optical illusion 3D heart on top of this box. If you look at it straight from the top, it looks 3D! But it’s actually just painted on.

Here’s how you can make this little box to hold your favorite photos of loved ones:

SUPPLIES

Medium Wooden Box (I used one a recipe box by Walnut Hollow)

Gloss Decou-Page
Americana® Multi-Surface Acrylics in

Black Tie
Cotton Ball
Gold (Metallic)
Pink Tropics

Glamour Dust™ Sprinkle-On Glitter Gold
water container

palette or plastic plate

paper towels

transfer paper

pencil

Here is my heart pattern. Just right click the picture to save it and print it out.

1. Print off and cut out the heart pattern. Using a pencil and the transfer paper, transfer the heart onto the top of the box.

2. Use a 1″ flat brush and Gold (Metallic) to paint the box. (Leave the heart and lid edge unpainted.)

3. Use a #4 round brush and Pink Tropics to paint the inside of the heart as well as the sides of the lid.

4. Create five mixes: (1) part Pink Tropics with (2) parts Cotton Ball; (1) part Pink Tropics with (1) part Cotton Ball; (1) part Pink Tropics with (1) part Black Tie; (1) part Pink Tropics with (2) parts Black Tie; and (1) part Pink Tropics with (3) parts Black Tie.

5. Paint in the heart with a #4 round brush. Paint the lightest color mix onto the left side of the heart. Paint the darker mixes onto the right side. (Refer to the final photo for color placement.)

6. Being careful to stay outside of the heart, brush the lid with Americana Gloss Decou-Page and sprinkle Gold Glamour Dust on top while it is still wet.

7. Brush off any excess glitter and apply another coat of Decou-Page on top of the Glamour Dust for extra hold.

8. Open the box and paint the inside edges with Pink Tropics.

9. Print photos at 3″ x 5″ (or the appropriate size for the box). Mat them with pink cardstock paper and add washi tape tabs.

10. Place the photos inside of the box.

There you have it! I’m so pleased with how this little box came out, and I love how it holds special pictures!

What color would you paint the heart? You’re not limited to just pink!

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DIY EASY Chalkboard Mini Crates – A Great Gift…

Hey guys, today I wanted to show you how I created these chalkboard crates that make the most PERFECT gift for friends and family!

To make these, I used some Mini Crates by Walnut Hollow Rustic Pallet collection. Walnut Hollow products can help you create unique handmade gifts for the holidays, or anytime really.

I will definitely be giving these to my friends, family, and probably my neighbors too, because they are so so easy and not to mention cute. Chalkboards are super trendy and I love writing and doodling on them.

Create these chalkboard cookie crates using Walnut Hollow Mini Crates and following this tutorial by Katie Smith

Supplies:

Mini Crates by Walnut Hollow
1″ Foam Brush
Chalkboard Paint by DecoArt
Clear Chalkboard Coating by DecoArt
Deacoupage by DecoArt
Black Acrylic Paint by DecoArt
Pass the Tissue Papers by Hazel and Ruby
Chalk
Cookies (optional)

1. Paint the outside of your mini crates with chalkboard paint. You will want to paint the first coat horizontally. I recommend using a foam brush and it smooths it out nicely.

Let dry 1 hour between coats and paint on the second coat vertically.

2. I also painted the inside of my crate black, I liked the finished look of the completely painted mini crate. I used black acrylic paint on the inside of the crate, as you do not need chalkboard paint on the inside, right?

Once the paint was dry, I cut a piece of patterned tissue paper the same size as the bottom of the crate and deacoupaged it into the bottom.

Let dry completely.

Another fun way to create these chalkboard mini crates is to use clear chalkboard coating. It allows you to decorate the crates with papers, colored paints or other medias and still use them as a chalkboard!

I decorated two of the Walnut Hollow mini crates with patterned papers, and then brushed over them with the chalkboard coating. Just like the black chalkboard paint, you need two coats, one horizontal and one vertical, letting it dry for an hour between coats.

Let the chalkboard paint cure for 24 hours before writing on it!

Once you’re all finished, write or doodle on your mini crates, fill them with cookies or treats and give them to your friends!

What do you think? Are these something you would give to a friend? What type of cookie would you fill them with?

You can find these amazing Mini Crates here.

*This is a sponsored post by Walnut Hollow. I was compensated for this tutorial, but all opinions are my own.

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DIY Crackled Pepsi Crate

Hey guys, Today I wanted to share this Pepsi crate I restyled using some Hazel and Ruby products and One Step Crackle Paint from Deco Art.

I bought this wooden pepsi crate last year, because I love the little cubbies- perfect for organizing. But, I don’t drink cokes (I’m from Texas, Pepsi is considered coke as well), so I didn’t really care that it said pepsi on the side.

After having it for a while, I felt that it was time for a restyle.

Supplies: Wooden Pepsi Crate, Wooden Grain DIY Decor Tape, Newsprint Floral Wrap it Up Paper, One Step Crackle Paint, Gel Stain, Adhesive, Paint Brush, Scissors

I’m part of Deco Art’s blogger outreach program, and I am using these 2 mediums by Deco Art on this project. The One Step Crackle is really cool, because you apply if over patterned papers or things like DIY Decor Tape!

I started by covering the outside of my crate in the fabulous Wooden Grain DIY Decor Tape.

Next I cut out some of the gorgeous flowers from the Newsprint Floral Wrap it Up paper and adhered them to the sides. These are perfect for fussy cutting out and using on projects.

Time for some crackle! Go over the outside of the crate with the One Step Crackle medium. I found that the thicker I applied it, the larger the crackles, and the thinner, the smaller the crackles.

Let them dry fully.

Now you’ll want to apply the Gel Stain over top so that you can see the crackles better. I squirted on a small blob, and then rubbed it into the crackles with a baby wipe.

After that is dry, you’re done! I am loving this technique, having crackled DIY Decor Tape is really cool, in my opinion.

Thanks for stopping by!

Do you like vintage coke crates??

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DIY Tribal Print Canvas Shoes

Hey guys! As you may (or not) know, I design and sell custom painted shoes in my etsy shop. I don’t usually post tutorials for them here, but this pair was pretty easy so I thought I might share with you guys how I did it!

Supplies: Canvas Shoes, Pencil, Paint Brush, Deco Art SoSoft Fabric Paint

1. Start by using a pencil and sketching out rows onto the front section of your canvas shoes. You want to sketch it pretty light, but dark enough that you can see it to use as a guide.

2. Come up with some pattern ideas. I searched “Tribal patterns” on pinterest and google images and came up with a few designs I liked.

Use your pencil to lightly sketch your design onto the first row on your shoe. Fill in the design using a small paint brush and Deco Art fabric paint.

3. Repeat your design horizontally along your row on both shoes so that they match.

4. Continue sketching different designs and filling them in with paint until you have the entire front section of your shoe covered. I also painted a black line around the front section of my shoe to give it a more finished look.

You could paint the entire shoe in patterns if you wanted to, I decided not to on this pair, keeping them pretty simple.

I love painting canvas shoes. Do you like to customize your shoes? Deco Art’s SoSoft Fabric Acrylics are the perfect fabric paint to use on canvas shoes.

*I am a blogger for DecoArt and received free product for this post, but all of the opinions expressed here are my own. For more information on the DecoArt products, click here.